Two friends teamed up to create Herndon’s new coworking space called Rowan Tree, which debuted today (Jan. 15) in Sunset Business Park.
The coworking space, which describes itself as “geared for women but welcome to all,” offers an open workspace, meeting rooms, onsite yoga and professional and personal growth workshops at 280 Sunset Park Drive.
As a part of the grand opening, Rowan Tree’s co-founders Amy Dagliano and Kate Viggiano Janich announced a scholarship for local entrepreneurial women who may face financial barriers with the membership. (Memberships cost either $2,400 for the year or $275 per month, which totals $3,300 per year.)
Janich said the scholarship is meant to support a diverse and inclusive environment. For every five members, Rowan Tree will fund one full scholarship.
Reston Now caught up with Dagliano to find out the details behind Rowan Tree’s name and why they picked Herndon.
Reston Now: How did you come up with the name “Rowan Tree”?
Amy Dagliano: We are best friends — and we also happen to share the same birthday: April 9. We found that just like with birthstones, there are actually trees associated with birthdays.
The Rowan Tree is the tree of April 9. The tree represents vision, power, connection, transformation, and balance. All things we knew we wanted in the community. The tree is known as the portal tree, taking you from one place to another, and it seeks the highest of altitudes to grow and thrive.
Rowan is also a family name of Kate’s cousin — the same cousin who helped Amy heal from Lyme Disease.
RN: Why Herndon?
AD: We found most women-focused coworking places are in cities, but we are working moms who live in NoVA. We like having our parking lots and yards — but we are still really interested in growing our careers, connecting with others and being part of a movement.
There is nothing like Rowan Tree in Herndon or the surrounding area. Before we opened, we interviewed a lot of women in the NoVA area. We found that those who lived in Herndon and nearby were very enthusiastic about the concept. Many of them were launching something new for themselves, but they didn’t have a place to land. Then, as we started pop-up events, we received incredible community support. We love this small town with a big heart and its strong sense of community.
Finally, it’s HERndon. What better place to open our flagship coworking and cogrowth space focused on women than a town with “HER” in the name?
RN: How did you choose the Herndon location?
AD: Our original intention was to open 10,000 square feet with private offices. Soon into research, however, we realized something smaller and more community-focused would better fit our vision of a close, collaborative network of women. When we held pop-up coworking at ArtSpace Herndon, our ArtSpace friends suggested we check out this place for rent.
We took one look and knew it would be perfect for Rowan Tree. The owner understands and supports our vision, and by adding our furniture, touches of color, twinkle lights and artwork, we were able to create a warm and inviting space. It’s the perfect “treehouse.”
RN: How many people can occupy the space?
AD: If everyone is sitting at tables and utilizing the conference rooms, we can fit about 40 to 50 people at once. But the great thing about the space is that it’s flexible. We can roll the tables out of the main space and have more than 50 people in chairs watching a presentation or more than 75 people for a cocktail event or fundraiser.
We also have an open studio space that can we can bring tables and chairs into to add seating or to hold wellness or artistic activities.
RN: What are you most excited about?
AD: We are blown out of the water by the caliber of the women joining our community. Our members are forming relationships. They are sharing ideas and leaning on each other. They are connecting each other to their networks. They are growing. They are making Rowan Tree their own.
We are truly looking forward to the impact we will have on our local community and economy — and hopefully, far beyond.
Photos via Rowan Tree
Firefighters are on the scene of an apartment fire that broke out in the 13900 block of Mansarde Avenue in Herndon.
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue tweeted at 10:22 a.m. today (Jan. 15) that crews had arrived to find that fire sprinklers extinguished the fire.
There is no word yet on if there are any injuries or damage.
Units on scene of an apartment fire in the 13900 block of Mansarde Avenue, Herndon. Crews arrived to find fire was extinguished by fire sprinklers. #fastestwater #FireSprinklersSaveLives pic.twitter.com/s413S0IeTt
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) January 15, 2019
Map via Google Maps
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue wants to educate locals on how to prevent hoverboards issues after an overcharged hoverboard battery caused a Herndon house fire last week.
Firefighters responded to the reported fire in the 2600 block of Meadow Hall Drive around 12:33 a.m. last Wednesday (Jan. 2.).
The fire was out upon the fire department’s arrival, causing roughly $1,000 in damages, according to the fire department.
Fire investigators determined that the fire started by accident in the home’s basement after a third party replacement charging adapter overcharged the battery.
The fire department published a video today (Jan. 11) by Captain Tim Palmer, who provides steps hoverboard owners can take to prevent a fire like the one from last week.
“The fire occurred overnight, and fortunately for the occupants a working smoke alarm sounded near the hoverboard and awake them, allowing them to evacuate the home,” Palmer said about the Jan. 2 fire.
Palmer suggested that owners contact the manufacturer for an approved replacement if the hoverboard’s original charger becomes damaged, worn out or lost. “We also suggest never charge your overboard or device when you are not present or overnight when you can’t monitor the device being charged,” Palmer said.
It’s been nearly two years, and Aslin Beer Company is still waiting for approval to move into its planned tasting room and bar in Herndon.
The company is waiting on the Department of Public Works to approve grading plans as a deadline looms for the Heritage Preservation Review Board to consider approval of the project at its upcoming meeting next month.
In the summer of 2017, the brewery was told it would have to leave the Town of Herndon due to the limitations of its current space (257 Sunset Park Drive). So Aslin found a new home at 771 Elden Street, which was the location of the former Napa Auto Parts, and planned to open the Aslin Tasting House later that year, Reston Now previously reported.
Originally, the new location planned to have 2,500 square feet of interior tasting room space and another 2,500 square feet of outdoor space — including a rooftop deck and bar, bocce ball court and covered deck.
Then last year on Dec. 10, Aslin resubmitted plans with a revised design that include terrace seating and a rooftop bar.
Herndon’s Heritage Preservation Review Board held a work session last Wednesday (Jan. 2) that included discussion on the redesign and amendments, which the board had previously approved.
Ira Saul, an attorney representing Aslin, “stated no additional structural changes would be made, other than the removal of the cantilevered deck area on the second floor and removing the exterior stairway for an internalized stairwell to the second floor,” according to draft minutes from the meeting.
Saul said that a second-floor fireplace with a stone veneer, second-floor rain screens and a second-floor overhead trellis near the rear of the building that appeared to have been removed from the submitted design would be included in future drawings. Additionally, the two different color schemes in the submission will get clarified in the future to have just one color scheme.
Board Member Ossolinski requested that the formal application submission include perspective color renderings of the structure — as had been provided during the original case review and subsequent approval — to help clarify the differences between the new and the revised design.
Once the Department of Public Works approves the grading plans — a prerequisite to Heritage Preservation Review Board approval — the beer company will be able to submit the final application by the Jan. 14 deadline for the board’s February meeting.
Aslin Beer Company declined to comment for the article.
“The town remains committed to working with Aslin’s owners through this process,” Anne Curtis, the chief communications officer for the Town of Herndon, told Reston Now.
Images via Google Maps and the Town of Herndon
Toronto-based singer-songwriter Shawna Caspi is coming to Herndon for a performance next Tuesday.
Caspi is set to perform on Jan. 15 as a part of The Folk Club of Reston/Herndon, a volunteer organization that meets on Tuesday evenings at 7:15 p.m. at Amphora’s Diner Deluxe (1151 Elden Street).
Classically trained, Caspi shifted to folk singing, which she pairs with a fingerpicking guitar style.
In September 2017, she released her fourth album, “Forest Fire,” which delves into “burning things down and building them up again” with bluegrass instrumentation.
Her song “Not So Silent” from her 2014 album “Apartments for Lovers” was selected for the Silver Award in the folk acoustic category of the Mid-Atlantic Song Contest presented by the Songwriters’ Association of Washington, she wrote on her website on Tuesday (Jan 8).
Her travels as a musician inspired Caspi to paint. “Shawna loves the landscapes of her travels, and while weaving them into her songs, she has also been portraying them on canvases, painting one-of-a-kind works of art inspired by the rich scenery she sees on tour,” according to her bio. So far, she has sold more than 100 original paintings.
The upcoming Herndon show has a suggested donation of $10 for members of the Folk Club and $11 for nonmembers.
Heading back on the road in just one week! #Teaneck NJ, #Bethesda MD, #Herndon VA, #Darlington MD pic.twitter.com/OgsSh9dS2j
— Shawna Caspi (@shawnacaspi) January 4, 2019
Image via World One Video on YouTube
Thomas Avenue’s days as a conduit for cut-through traffic trying to get to Route 7 might be numbered.
At a meeting next Wednesday (Jan. 16) at Dranesville Elementary School, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will host a meeting about plans to limit cut-through traffic at the congested street north of Herndon.
Currently, the narrow residential street is clogged with traffic during rush hour trying to get around congestion on Algonkian Parkway to Route 7.
At the meeting, VDOT will present potential solutions and gather feedback from locals. Proposals include restricting right turns during weekday peak morning traffic.
The meeting will run from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. with the presentation beginning at 7 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, a meeting will be held the following Tuesday.
The public comment period will run until Jan. 28.
Photo via Google Maps
Updated at 9:45 a.m. — Includes information from Starbucks and Virginia ABC.
Four businesses closed up shop in Woodland Park Crossing in Herndon last year, adding to its list of retail vacancies.
The mixed-use development, which includes a Harris Teeter and UFC Gym, currently has nine vacant retail spaces, according to a list from Rosenthal Properties.
Marion Myers, a spokeswoman for Rosenthal Properties, told Reston Now that some of the closures were not surprising. “It’s normal in the retail cycle when leases come up for renewal for there to be churn,” she said.
While the development saw several closures in 2018, it has upgrades in store for this year.
“We are working to improve the customer experience at Woodland Park Crossing,” according to Rosenthal Properties, adding that upgrades include LED lighting along with more parking and a new green space that will get added in the first quarter of 2019.
The Starbucks closed last year at 2309 Woodland Crossing Drive, which Myers said was a part of Starbucks’ larger plan to shutter 150 stores in fiscal year 2019.
A spokeswoman for Starbucks told Reston Now that the Woodland Park Crossing location, which closed on Nov. 30, was “special to our customers and our partners.” Now, those customers can go to the nearby store at 2465 Centreville Road, and the partners have been relocated to other nearby stores, she wrote in an email.
“As part of Starbucks standard course of business, we continually evaluate our business to ensure a healthy store portfolio,” the spokeswoman said. “After careful consideration, we determined it was best to close the store at [Woodland Crossing Drive].” She added that Starbucks expects to grow its store numbers by 3 to 4 percent in the U.S. at a rate of 550 new stores per year.
Cleaners located at 2310 Woodland Crossing Drive, Suite 1 closed at some point last summer, according to employees at businesses near the former cleaners.
Next Day Blinds at (2976 Highland Crossing Drive, Suite A) closed its doors on Nov. 21 and now services Herndon customers out of the Sterling, Va. location, according to its website.
“We are still here for you, for life. We look forward to seeing you in Sterling,” the website says.
The Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority relocated its store at 12950 Highland Crossing Drive, Suite B to the Village Center at Dulles (2435 Centreville Road) on Aug. 22, Dawn Eischen, a spokeswoman for the Virginia ABC Authority, told Reston Now. “We chose the new location because of potential profitability and better parking,” she wrote in an email.
Next to the parking lot, an existing building that used to house a Capital One bank branch that closed in 2016 is currently getting torn down, Myers said. The demolition started last fall and is slated to wrap up this quarter, she said.
Between 1,135-square-foot to 6,512-sqaure-foot retail spaces are cuurently available for lease, along with 2,589-square-foot and 4,641-square-foot office/retail spaces.
“We are currently looking for the right mix of retail and restaurants and feel it’s worth being strategic, even if it takes some time,” according to the commercial real estate company. “There are new leases in the pipeline, but they cannot be discussed until finalized.”
Image and map via Rosenthal Properties
This story has been updated
The Virginia House of Delegates has an opening for a seat that represents Herndon.
Del. Jennifer Boysko, a Democrat currently representing the 86th District, won the special election yesterday (Jan. 8) to take over the 33rd District seat in the State Senate vacated by Jennifer Wexton when she became a Congresswoman.
Boysko won with just under 70 percent of the vote, while her opponent, Republican Joe May, received about 30 percent. With Boysko moving to the State Senate, voters will get choose who will fill her district seat, which includes Herndon.
Several Democratic candidates announced they will vie for the seat, including:
- Chad Thompson — a public affairs consultant who lives in Herndon
- Kofi Annan — the president of the Fairfax County NAACP
- Ibraheem Samirah — a dentist at District Smiles who is a first-generation Muslim American
- Mike O’Reilly — a former Herndon mayor who is now a lawyer and the owner of the O’Reilly Law Firm
The Democratic candidates will vie for the spot at the primary on Saturday (Jan. 12).
Herndon residents who are registered voters in the 86th District can vote between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. at Dranesville Elementary School (1515 Powells Tavern Place).
File photo
Fine arts photography collection closes — The “La Lumiere DuBois VII” exhibit by Michael DuBois, who highlights his love of nature, closes today at the Reston Community Center Hunters Woods. [Reston Community Center]
Swearing-in ceremony — The Herndon’s mayor and Town Council will be sworn in tonight at 7 p.m. at the Herndon Municipal Center Lobby. [Herndon Connection]
Former county attorney and RA Board of Directors member died — David Bobzien, who was the Fairfax County attorney for 23 years and a member of the Reston Association Board of Directors, died on Dec. 30 at The Johns Hopkins Hospital after battling leukemia. A memorial mass will be held on Feb. 8. starting at 10 a.m. at St. John Neumann Catholic Community. [Adams-Green Funeral Homes and Crematory]
Reston loses conference due to government shutdown — The Institute of Navigation has decided to postpone the Cognizant Autonomous Systems for Safety Critical Applications Conference originally scheduled to take place Jan. 28-29 in Reston because of the partial federal government shutdown, which impacted some of the speakers and attendees. The conference has been rescheduled for Sept. 16-17 in Miami. [GPS World]
Photo via Matt Paulson/Instagram
Police arrested and charged Juwan Seegars, a 23-year-old man from Reston, with destruction of property and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, along with 20-year-old Samir Abdalmajied of Springfield on New Year’s Day.
Police arrived at 8 a.m. at the Pleasant Acres Motel (12723 Lee Highway) in Fairfax after three people broke into a room at the motel after being told they could not rent a room, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.
Police told the three people to come outside and then arrested them. While searching the room, police found a loaded pistol and digital scale.
Police also arrested and charged a 17-year-old girl who was in the room with destruction of property. She had outstanding petitions from Prince William County.
The Fairfax County Police Department’s Reston District Station reported the following incidents in recent days:
LARCENIES:
13000 block of Cabin Creek Road, property from vehicle
1800 block of Cameron Glen Drive, cell phone from location
2200 block of Centreville Road, package from residence
2400 block of Cypress Green Lane, cell phone from location
11900 block of Market Street, cell phone from location
10100 block of Nedra Drive, property from residence
1200 block of Vintage Place, luggage from vehicle
11400 block of Washington Plaza, watch from residence
STOLEN VEHICLES:
13000 block of Cabin Creek Road, 2007 Subaru Legacy
Loudoun County police arrested three men from Herndon in separate incidents on New Year’s Day in Sterling.
Aa sheriff’s deputy observed 37-year-old Oscar A. Flores Avila of Herndon unable to keep his balance in the 150 block of Enterprise Street in Sterling at 2:36 a.m. on Jan. 1, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office.
Avila was arrested and charged with being drunk in public. He has since been released from the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center on a personal recognizance bond.
In a separate incident on the same day, deputies responded to the 455500 block of E. Severn Way in Sterling at 4:12 a.m. for a report of disorderly subjects in a hotel. Police arrested and charged 23-year-old Muhammad Aatif of Ashburn and 22-year-old Billan Waberi of Herndon with being drunk in public and disorderly conduct. Additionally, Aatic was charged with possession of marijuana.
Aatif was released from the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center on a $2,500 secured bond. Waberi was released on a personal recognizance bond.
Later that day, deputies responded to the 150 block of Enterprise Street again for a report of possible narcotics activity at 1:36 p.m.
Loudoun County police arrested 22-year-old Kevin Urbina-Morales of Herndon and charged him with being drunk in public. He was released from the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center on a personal recognizance bond.
The Herndon Police Department is investigating a purse-snatching that took place on Dec. 28 in the 1000 block of Alabama Drive. The victim reported to the police that after she left a bank two men took her purse and ran off. The purse contained an undisclosed amount of cash, various forms of identification and insurance cards, as well as bank cards, the report said.
Herndon police are also investigating a commercial burglary that took place sometime in the overnight hours of last Wednesday (Jan. 2) in the 900 block of Herndon Pkwy. “An unknown individual forced entry into the business through a back door and took an undisclosed amount of cash,” the report said.
File photo
Reston residents ages 55 and older now have an online resource created just for them.
The Reston Association launched a new page on its website yesterday (Jan. 7) that provides information on housing, transportation, recreation, home services and wellness.
The “Resources for Better Aging” webpage also lists more than 75 local organizations that offer different services around Reston that older residents might want to check out, including AARP Reston, Herndon Senior Center, Seniors-On-The-Go and Reston Runners.
The webpage can be found under the “Around Reston” section on the RA’s website.
RA’s 55+ Advisory Committee and the Reston for a Lifetime, a citizens’ group, initiated the webpage project. The committee, which advises the Board of Directors on how to enhance the welfare of RA members ages 55 and older, collaborates with the citizens’ group to encourage aging-in-place.
Photo via Reston Association
As the partial federal government shutdown nears its 19th day, the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce will host a free panel on Thursday to help companies and workers prepare for a long shutdown.
Certified public accountants, bankers, insurance experts and lawyers will provide advice during the panel from 4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. at the Hilton Washington Dulles Airport Hotel (13869 Park Center Road) in Herndon on Jan. 10.
The individuals from the financial, legal and insurance industries will talk about the direct and indirect cost of the shutdown, along with how companies can remain solvent and what are the different options for their employees.
They will also give advice on remedies available to government contractors, what to do when this shutdown ends and how to prepare for a future shutdown.
The free panel is intended to help workers and local businesses of all sizes “mitigate the adverse effects the federal government shutdown and be ready to go when this shutdown ends,” Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce President and CEO John Boylan said in a press release.
“Our region is disproportionately affected by federal government shutdowns, and the impact reaches deep into our community,” Boylan said.
More than 35 percent of Reston Now readers said in a poll on Jan. 3 that the shutdown affects them, with roughly 22 percent indicating they are federal workers.
The partial federal government shutdown started on Dec. 22 after Congress and the White House failed to reach a spending deal. It remains unclear if or when the White House and congressional Democrats could negotiate a deal as President Donald Trump keeps a firm stand for $5 billion to pay for a border wall.
With no immediate end in sight, Trump’s third government shutdown is nearing a record-breaking mark. (The longest government shutdown was 21 days during Bill Clinton’s presidency.)
“Beyond the direct effect felt among our friends and colleagues within the federal government, this shutdown imposes a real burden on many of the businesses in our region, especially contractors and subcontractors who are increasingly pressured each day this shutdown continues,” Boylan said.
Participants are encouraged to register for the event.
Photo via Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce
This week on Reston Then and Now we take our first foray into Herndon, moving a little west of the Reston Town Center. Fairfax County’s aerial photography shows how the shopping venues on Elden Street west of the Fairfax County Parkway have evolved over the years.
Herndon is a historic town, but the shopping centers along Elden Street are a relatively recent addition that followed the rise of Reston to the east.
The first of the shopping centers to spring up along Elden Street was Herndon Pines Shopping Center, which was established in 1959 but recently has faced continuing vacancies.
Further east, the the Herndon Centre was anchored by a Kmart built in 1976. The building was demolished in 2017 and is expected to be replaced by a Sprouts Farmers Market.
New development continued to spring up along the southern side of Elden Street from the 1990s onward, including the addition of the Safeway, SunTrust, and various shops in Herndon Marketplace.
Construction is slated to finish next month on the Elden Corner Center in Herndon.
Construction is currently underway on the commercial retail building at 900 Alabama Drive.
Sanjay Bajaj, the project’s applicant, told Reston Now that construction will be done by February. The more than 10,000-square-foot retail center will have eight stores and roughly 54 parking spaces, Bajaj said.
“Currently, the center is about 62 percent leased out,” he wrote in an email.
Three spots in the center are still available to lease from the CoStar Group. Plans from Capital Realty Advisors, LLC indicate that a hair salon, bakery, Boost Mobile and Peruvian Chicken have already leased the other spaces.
Elden Corner Center is just one of several projects currently under construction in Herndon.
Stanley Martin is building a two-over-two stacked townhouse development with 64 units between Herndon Pkwy and Van Buren Street. The Metro Square development is across the street from Haley M. Smith Park and will be next to the Herndon Metro Station.
More homes are on the way. The Residences at the Station will offer several single-family homes with “historic styling” featuring front porches and detached garages.
Across the street from the Pines Shopping Center (650 Elden Street), the development by Doll Homes will include an improved streetscape, off-street parking and paver driveways, according to Herndon’s development site.
Virginia Tire and Auto, which is taking the spot at 199 Elden Street that was vacated by a Cardinal Bank branch, faces construction. Demolition is underway of the existing bank building, along with construction of an 11-bay service station, according to Herndon’s development site.
The vehicle service center aims to open next summer, an employee previously told Reston Now.
Images via CoStar Group and Stanley Martin
With the first weekend of 2019 coming up, Reston Now has some suggestions for things to do around Reston and Herndon.
Tomorrow is the last chance to check out the National Parks photography exhibit at ArtSpace Herndon (750 Center Street). The gallery features Jim Schlett’s national park photography. Most of the work was photographed during long walks through the parks around dawn or dusk.
Tomorrow (Jan. 5)
Winter bird count (7 a.m.-noon) — Get outside and take part in Reston’s winter bird count. The free event has participants meet at the Walker Nature Center (11450 Glade Drive) before the volunteers spread out to observe a variety of habitats around Reston. Volunteers will be provided lunch.
North Hills Pavilion run (8 a.m.) — Join Reston Runners at N. Village Road for either a 3-mile walk or 5-mile run.
Bookworms Club (11 a.m.) — Bring your young avid readers to Scrawl Books (11911 Freedom Drive) for the free “Bookworms Club.” The club explores a new theme each week with picture books, special guests and authors.
The Six Root Causes of Autoimmune Disease (11 a.m.-1 p.m.) — A free workshop will be held at The Carroll Institute (11710 Plaza America Drive) by Dr. Garland Glenn called “Reversing the Cause of Autoimmune Disease.” Glenn will discuss simple steps that can reverse the root causes and provide a strategic action plan.
Chess Club (1 p.m.-2:30 p.m.) — Feeling competitive? People ages five and older can learn how to play chess from experienced instructors at the Herndon Fortnightly Library (768 Center Street).
Bach2Rock Fundraiser Showcase (6 p.m.-8 p.m.) — Multiple bands and solo artists from the B2R catalog are set to perform at the fundraising concert at ArtSpace Herndon. Admission is free with a suggested donation of $20. All of the proceeds will benefit ArtSpace Herndon.
Sunday (Jan. 6)
Reston Runners (8 a.m.)– Meet the running group for either a 3-mile walk, 6-mile walk or a 10-mile run. Starting locations vary.
Breaking the Weight Loss Plateau (4 p.m.-5 p.m.) — Already behind on your New Year’s goal to lose weight? Head to the GreenFare Organic Cafe (408 Elden Street) for a fitness class taught by Pericles Silva. Admission is $5.
Photo via ArtSpace Herndon
